Open caption vs closed caption: what you need to know

Imagine you're engrossed in a gripping action movie on a streaming service. Explosions, high-speed chases, and intricate dialogue fill the screen. Sounds...

Imagine you're engrossed in a gripping action movie on a streaming service. Explosions, high-speed chases, and intricate dialogue fill the screen. Sounds exciting, right? But what if you're hard of hearing, or you're in a noisy cafe where the dialogue becomes inaudible? This is where the magic of captions comes into play. The terms "open captions" and "closed captions" might sound similar, but they serve different purposes and offer various functionalities. Understanding the nuances between open captions vs closed captions is crucial for both content creators and consumers to improve accessibility and user experience. So, let's dive in!

What are captions?

Captions are a form of transcription that appears on-screen to provide the viewer with a textual representation of the audio in video content. They are an essential tool for people who are hard of hearing or have hearing loss. But captions are not just about disabilities. They can be helpful in noisy environments or places where sound is muted. They're often used in social media videos, educational tutorials, webinars, and more. Unlike subtitles, which are primarily used to translate foreign language dialogue, captions also describe sound effects, music, and other audio elements important for the viewing experience.

The basics of open caption

Open captions are a type of captioning where the text is permanently embedded into the video content itself. This means they are a steadfast part of the video file, almost as if they've been "burned in" to the video's actual visual elements. When you play a video with open captions, there's no way to disable or remove the text that appears on-screen because it has been hard-coded into the footage during the video editing process. Unlike closed captions, which exist as separate caption files and can be toggled on or off, open captions are always visible to every viewer, without exception. This type of captioning is often used when it's crucial to ensure that every viewer can access the captioned information without needing to adjust any settings on their media player or device.

Where you'll find open captions

Open captions are most commonly seen in environments where it's important for the captions to be always visible, such as public spaces like airports, gyms, or train stations. In these settings, turning captions on or off is not a practical option due to the diverse needs of the public. In the digital world, you'll often find open captions used on social media platforms like TikTok and Vimeo. 

These platforms may not offer the same comprehensive support for separate closed caption files as other, more feature-rich media players or streaming services. For instance, uploading SRT (SubRip Text) files for captions might not be a supported feature, making open captions the go-to option for content creators who want to make their videos accessible on these platforms.

Advantages of open captions

The most significant advantage of open captions is their universal accessibility. Because the captions are a permanent part of the video, they don't require the viewer to download any separate file or use specialized software to view them. This ensures that the video is accessible to everyone, including individuals with hearing impairments or those who are watching in environments where audio is not feasible. 

Furthermore, the hard-coded nature of open captions makes them particularly beneficial for SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Search engines can crawl and index the on-screen text, thereby increasing the video's visibility in search results. This is a boon for content creators looking to improve the reach of their video content.

Drawbacks of open caption

Despite their advantages, open captions are not without their drawbacks. One of the most glaring limitations is that they can't be turned off. For viewers who don't require captions, or find them distracting, this can detract from their viewing experience. In educational settings, for example, where viewers might want to focus on visual elements like graphs or diagrams, the presence of inescapable text could be considered intrusive. 

Moreover, open captions offer zero customization options. Unlike closed captions, where viewers can change the font, size, and color of the text to suit their needs or preferences, the style of open captions is set by the content creator and cannot be altered. This lack of customization can be a downside for viewers who may prefer a different text style for readability or aesthetic reasons.

The basics of closed caption

Closed captions offer a unique level of interactivity and personalization, setting them apart from their less-flexible counterparts, open captions. Unlike open captions, which are hard-coded and imprinted directly onto the video content, closed captions are usually stored as separate files. This separate file approach allows viewers to toggle them on or off, as they see fit. Essentially, the viewer has the power to decide whether they wish to engage with the captions or not, offering a more personalized viewing experience. 

This feature is particularly useful in various settings—perhaps you're watching a podcast video and you're not sure if the speaker's accent will be challenging to understand. With closed captions, you can toggle the function on if you find yourself struggling and turn it off when you don't need it anymore. Closed captions provide this 'à la carte' type of captioning that has garnered a significant following among users for its adaptability and user control.

Where you'll find closed captions

Closed captions have become increasingly ubiquitous across a variety of platforms and media types. They are most commonly found in streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video, where the viewer is given the option to switch captions on or off as part of the platform's user experience. YouTube videos are another prime example. Many YouTube creators and even automated algorithms add closed captions to videos, often stored as separate SRT (SubRip Text) or other compatible file formats. 

Educational platforms, such as online courses or university online resources, also make extensive use of closed captions to ensure that content is accessible to everyone, including people with hearing impairments. One common denominator for all these platforms is that they generally have robust media players that support the functionality of toggling closed captions on or off, giving users the option to customize their experience.

Advantages of closed captions

The advantages of closed captions are manifold, and perhaps the most significant among them is the level of customization they afford the viewer. You're not just stuck with a default font, text size, or color—the world is your oyster. Want to change the font to something more readable? Go ahead. Do you find the text too small? You can make it bigger. Even the color of the text and its background can be altered to suit the viewer's preferences or needs. 

This is a particularly beneficial feature for those with visual impairments who may require high contrast text to read comfortably. Beyond customization, closed captions are dynamic in nature. This makes them incredibly suitable for real-time events like webinars, live sports broadcasts, or breaking news stories. They adapt to the content in real-time, ensuring viewers don't miss out on any crucial information. The advantages extend to SEO as well, as search engines can crawl these text files, thereby improving the visibility of the content.

Drawbacks of closed caption

However, closed captions are not without their drawbacks. One significant issue is the requirement for specific software or hardware that can read the separate caption files, such as SRT files. For instance, some older televisions and media players may not support this feature, thereby limiting the accessibility that closed captions are intended to provide. Additionally, there's the issue of synchronization. Because the captions are stored as separate files, there's the possibility that they may go out of sync with the video, especially if there are buffering issues. 

An out-of-sync caption can distract the viewer and degrade the overall user experience. There's also the issue of quality and accuracy, particularly in the context of real-time or live captioning. Automatic live captioning services can sometimes produce errors or lag slightly behind the audio, both of which can be problematic for the viewer. Furthermore, while many online platforms like YouTube offer automatic captioning services, the quality can be inconsistent, requiring manual editing for accuracy. Thus, while closed captions offer a host of benefits, they come with their own set of challenges that users should be aware of.

Comparing open caption and closed caption

Accessibility

In terms of accessibility, open captions are more universally accessible since they don't require the viewer to do anything to see them. Closed captions, however, provide more accessibility features, such as the ability to change text size or color for those with visual impairments.

Flexibility and customization

Closed captions offer more flexibility in customization. Whether it's changing the language from English to a foreign language or altering the text's appearance, the control is in the hands of the viewer.

Technical requirements

Open captions require no additional settings or software but are permanent and cannot be edited. Closed captions, on the other hand, often come in separate files and require compatible media players or platforms like YouTube and LinkedIn that support this feature.

Choosing between open and closed captions

For content creators

If you're a content creator focusing on social media platforms like TikTok, where adding separate closed caption files might be challenging, open captions are your go-to. They also have the advantage of being indexed by search engines, enhancing your video's SEO. However, platforms like YouTube and Vimeo provide extensive closed captioning services, allowing for greater user experience and accessibility.

For consumers

If you're a consumer, your choice depends on your specific needs. If you have hearing loss or other auditory impairments, you'll likely find closed captions more accommodating because of the customization options. On platforms like YouTube, you can even find tutorials that guide you on how to maximize these features for a high-quality experience.

Real-world applications and examples

Success stories with open caption

Open captions are making waves in the foreign films sector. They provide an opportunity for viewers who speak different languages to enjoy content without the need for cumbersome translation devices or services.

Success stories with closed caption

In educational settings, closed captions have proven to be a godsend. They not only make content accessible to those with disabilities but also enhance comprehension and retention, making them popular in schools across America.

Both open and closed captions have their merits. While they both aim to make video content more accessible, their applications and features vary widely. Whether you're a content creator looking to reach a broader audience or a consumer wanting to enhance your viewing experience, understanding the differences between open captions vs closed captions is essential. From ADA compliance to real-time captioning in webinars and podcasts, the world of video captions is diverse and ever-evolving. Choose wisely, and you'll make the video-watching experience more inclusive and enjoyable for everyone.

How Speechify Audio Video Transcription complements captioning options

If you're thinking about creating captions for your video content, whether it's open or closed, Speechify Audio Video Transcription can make the process seamless. Available on iOS, Android, and PC, this tool converts spoken words into written text quickly and accurately. It's a fantastic resource for content creators who want to make their videos more accessible without the heavy lifting of manual transcription. Plus, it can help consumers too—imagine being able to transcribe your favorite podcast or webinar on-the-go. Interested? Enhance accessibility and improve your content now by giving Speechify Audio Video Transcription a try.

FAQs

1. Can I add both open and closed captions to the same video?

Technically, you can have both open and closed captions available for the same video content. For example, you could hard-code open captions into the video for viewers who may not know how to enable closed captions. At the same time, you could offer a separate closed caption file for those who wish to customize their captioning experience. However, this approach may require more effort in terms of editing and could potentially confuse viewers who are not familiar with the differences between the two.

2. Do I need special equipment for live captioning?

For live captioning, you would often need specialized software or a service that provides real-time captions. This software can either automatically transcribe what's being said using speech recognition technology or be manually controlled by a captioner. In either case, you generally don't need special hardware, but you do need a reliable internet connection and compatible platforms that can support this feature.

3. How do I make my captions ADA compliant?

To make your captions ADA compliant, you need to ensure that they are accurate, synchronous with the audio, and provide equivalent access to the content, including sound effects and other non-dialogue audio cues. For closed captions, it's also crucial that viewers can customize them for greater accessibility. Being ADA compliant not only makes your content accessible but could also protect you from potential legal consequences related to accessibility issues.